Imagine a quarterback sandwich—thick slices of protection, a dash of playmaking relish, and a side of kicker uncertainty. That’s the recipe Panthers’ head coach Dave Canales is tweaking this offseason, stirring the pot in Indianapolis like a tailgate chili master. With the NFL Combine buzzing louder, Carolina’s kitchen is hot, and the stakes? Let’s just say Bryce Young’s sophomore feast depends on it.
The Panthers aren’t just guarding Young—they’re planning on building a fortress. After coughing up 65 sacks in 2023, Carolina dropped $150 million on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis last year, slashing sacks to 36. “That’s huge, right?” Canales said on Tuesday. “I think one of the strengths of our team was the offensive line play, and even with that group consistently changing, we had some guys that had a lot of versatility that helped us.” But the job isn’t done.
Center remains a question mark, with GM Dan Morgan pushing to re-sign Austin Corbett and Cade Mays for more stability. Corbett started five games before a biceps tear which cost him the season; Mays stepped in for the final eight. Meanwhile, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and right tackle Taylor Moton anchor the edges. So what are Morgan’s plans?
Morgan wants Ekwonu locked down long-term and plans to ride out Moton’s $30 million cap hit. “I think we’re fine either way,” Morgan responded when asked about restructuring Moton again. “We can leave the contract how it is and we’re fine from that perspective.”
“Obviously, we love Taylor. We love everything about him,” Morgan said, sounding like a man refusing to fix what wasn’t broken. “But right now, we’re just going to stay put, and (executive vice president of football operations) Brandt (Tilis), myself, and Dave, we’ll get together at the right time and talk about his future in terms of long term.”
They are thinking long-term because they have found what works for them. Young can provide them with the stability needed to grow their offense. While the O-line eats first, Canales’ menu has other priorities.
“Defensive-front play, first and foremost,” Canales said during the NFL Combine, referencing a unit that allowed a league-worst 179.8 rushing yards per game, in the latest update. Safety depth is thin—only Demani Richardson remains under contract. Then there’s the hunt for an offensive ‘impact player,’ whether receiver, tight end, or RB2. Penn State’s Swiss Army knife Tyler Warren has Dave Canales’s attention…
Keeping offensive line continuity is clear priority for Panthershttps://t.co/niGfMumIGg
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 26, 2025
“He’s an incredible player,” Canales mused one day ago. “Speaking of versatility, here’s a guy who can play close to the interior and play physical because of his sheer size. He does create some mismatches in the passing game and you can hand him the ball. If you look at some of the teams that are using tight ends for QB sneaks, that would be a weapon in a short-yardage situation.” Imagine Warren—6’6”, 250 lbs—plowing gaps for Young. Meanwhile, Morgan isn’t sweating the pass-catchers.
“I love our wide receiver room,” he said, praising Adam Thielen being “savvy” and Xavier Legette’s potential. Thielen, the 34-year-old security blanket, shelved retirement talks after Young’s late surge. But with eight draft picks in the first five rounds, Carolina could still add a marquee name.
“We’re open to trying to make any moves at every position, trying to find impact players,” Canales said, sounding like a kid in a candy store. Meanwhile, another surprising development is brewing in Carolina.
The Pineiro paradox for Dave Canales—clutch or crutch?
Every BBQ ends with dessert, but the Panthers might skip sweets. In a move as puzzling as a halftime Hail Mary, Carolina will let Eddy Pineiro—the NFL’s third-most accurate kicker (88.1%)—test free agency. “We are gonna let Eddy test the market. His agents can be here, they can kinda see what his value is,” Morgan shrugged, channeling the nonchalance of a poker player folding a decent hand. “Definitely not going to close the door on that, but at the same time, we will be actively looking.”
But why?
Pineiro’s boot nailed 80-of-90 field goals since 2022, but his late-season misses (8/11 beyond 50 yards) left fans groaning. Letting Pineiro walk feels riskier than a fourth-down fake punt.
With less than $25M cap space and needs everywhere, Carolina’s kicking game hangs like a shanked field goal. Pineiro’s 88.1% accuracy trails only Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker, but shaky moments haunted 2024. Canales and Morgan’s gamble?
via Instagram
Find a cheaper leg without the baggage. Meanwhile, Tommy Tremble and Xavier Woods, tight end and safety respectively, also became available, although their returns are not impossible. Besides, Carolina’s blueprint mixes patience and audacity. Protect Young. Fortify the trenches. Scout playmakers. It’s a strategy as timeless as Vince Lombardi’s power sweep—but will it work?
As Morgan quipped, “We’re excited about that group. And they’re going to continue to get better.” For Panthers fans, hope tastes sweeter than sweet tea. As author John Steinbeck wrote, “Now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” For Panthers fans, is “good” enough if Young’s offense finally sizzles? Or will missing a clutch kicker haunt them like a halftime lead in the ‘03 Super Bowl?
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